France enters new era

The night Nicolas Sarkozy celebrated his presidentialvictory over Socialist Party candidate Segolene Royal atFouquet’s on the Champs Elysee, some 6,000 kilometers away,President George W. Bush must have also been celebrating –albeit in a somewhat more modest manner. There is good reason to believe the American president musthave been relieved that Sarkozy, who has made no qualmsabout his pro-American sympathies, will be the next tenantat the Elysee Palace. He is an admirer of the Americaneconomic model and wants to inject some similitude of the UScapitalist system into the French business world. Indeed inhis book, Testimony, timed to coincide with his victory, thenew French president states: “I have no intention toapologize for feeling an affinity with the greatestdemocracy in the world.” Sarkozy reminds the reader of his love for, “the valueAmericans place on work and the desire for excellence youfind everywhere, from CEOs to the most modest workers.” Hegoes on to say